Spreading Hope…a hat at a time.

Posts tagged ‘Mitochondrial Disease’

We recently connected with Ariadne (known as AJ affectionately) who is battling a genetic blood disorder called Cooley’s Anemia, because of this her body can not make ANY red blood cells and this causes many health issues. She is also is fighting rare genetic disorder that is a type of Mitochondrial Disease along with Sinus Tachycardia, Osteoporosis, paraparesis, gilosis of the right frontal lobe, learning disabilities, and more. Ariadne is also hearing impaired and wears hearing aids, due to a life saving medication that she has to take every night, through a needle sub-q for 12+ hours & Ariadne is also 2x stroke survivor.

Before connecting with AJ, I admit I was not aware of Mitochondrial Disease, so I did a google search. I found a lot of information from United Mitochondiral Disease Foundation (link)

Mitochondrial diseases result from failures of the mitochondria, specialized compartments present in every cell of the body except red blood cells. Mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth. When they fail, less and less energy is generated within the cell. Cell injury and even cell death follow. If this process is repeated throughout the body, whole systems begin to fail, and the life of the person in whom this is happening is severely compromised. The disease primarily affects children, but adult onset is becoming more and more common.

Diseases of the mitochondria appear to cause the most damage to cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles, kidney and the endocrine and respiratory systems.

I am in awe of Ariadne and all other Mitochondrial Disease Warriors and would like to spread awareness about their plight. Ariadne made a YouTube video to spread awareness of what Mito Kids experience as routine. Please view it here (link). It’s titled “Imagine a World Without Mitochondrial Disease”, wouldn’t that be wonderful?
~Pali